Statement On Nylon Factory Attacked

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 5

Statement On Nylon Factory Attacked

(Neto Zealand Press Association;

Hamilton, June 10. “I’ ill becomes Mr J. S. Meadoweroft, the president of the National Party, to make a mock of woolgrowers because they expressed alarm at the Government’s recent -approval of the establishment of nylon factories in New Zealand,” said Mr A. W. Moore, a member of the New Zealand Wool Board, in an interview in Hamilton today. He was replying to a.statement made by Mr Meadowcroft at the annual conference of the Waakato division of the National Party • “In October last, representatives of the Government undertook to discuss the matter of a nylon factory with the Wool Board (the representatives of the woolgrowers), if the negotiations reached a stage where the proposal might be adopted,” Mr Moore said. “Little of importance was further heard about the matter, in spite of inquiries made by toe board until it was an accomplished fact and the Government had agreed to the establishment of two nylon factories. “Woolgrowers are quite well aware nylon has uses that do not compete with wool and will not appreciate Mr Meadowcroft's tacetious remarks upon the use of wool

“It would seem that he is dismally ill-informed himself. Is he not aware that continuous filament nylon can be, and is being used, in the manufacture of carpets in direct competition to wool? Our carpet wools and the industry are most important, to our national economy. “Mr Meadowcroft does not appear to know that there is a wide range of woollen fabrics, made in the countries that buy our saw wool, that compete with nylon, even lingerte. but these goods are not available, to” our people because of Government policy.

“Wool-grow r ers are having a most difficult and worrying time in their efforts to com-

bat the ever-increasing competition of synthetics. “Why should we be making these fibres in New Zealand while the Government continues to restrict toe imports of woollen piece goods and so prevent the full use of wool by the people of our country? “Surely toe wool industry L more important to New Zealand with much more scope for increasing overseas funds. Why doesn’t toe Government get behind it?

“If wool has a fair go. industrialists might not be so keen on establishing a nylon factory in New Zealand,” he concluded.